Geographic distribution of endemic fungal infections among older persons, United States

John W. Baddley, Kevin L. Winthrop, Nivedita M. Patkar, Elizabeth Delzell, Timothy Beukelman, Fenglong Xie, Lang Chen, Jeffrey R. Curtis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

143 Scopus citations

Abstract

To investigate the epidemiology and geographic distribution of histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, and blastomycosis in older persons in the United States, we evaluated a random 5% sample of national Medicare data from 1999 through 2008. We calculated national, regional, and state-based incidence rates and determined 90-day postdiagnosis mortality rates. We identifi ed 776 cases (357 histoplasmosis, 345 coccidioidomycosis, 74 blastomycosis). Patient mean age was 75.7 years; 55% were male. Histoplasmosis and blastomycosis incidence was highest in the Midwest (6.1 and 1.0 cases/100,000 person-years, respectively); coccidioidomycosis incidence rate was highest in the West (15.2). On the basis of available data, for 86 (11.1%) cases, there was no patient exposure to a traditional disease-endemic area. Knowledge of areas where endemic mycosis incidence is increased may affect diagnostic or prevention measures for older adults at risk.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1664-1669
Number of pages6
JournalEmerging infectious diseases
Volume17
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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